Danw8986 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 This DIY will guide you through shortening your number plate mount to fit the size of your plate nicely, this was insired by Dickys imola beast (gone but not forgoten) Big thanks to dicky for talking me through the basics of the procedure. Aim: materials and tools needed: 1 plate suround hack saw or fine plastic saw blade soldering iron plastic cut offs pen ruler plastic primer paint and lacure 1. sorce a number plate suround (£30 from the dealership) i got mine from cwality83 2. prepare the mount by sanding down all the lacure so that when you come to paint the primer sticks to the base nicely 3. the numberplate measues 52.7 cms you will need to draw a line down the center of the plate 26.35cms from the edge (this has been messured from the inside of the lip) 4. once you have your center point calculate how much shorter you want the plate holder to be, i measured my existing plate and left 2cms ether side so to match with the spaces at the top and bottom of the lettering (by law you need to have 11mm ether side of the lettering) 5. calculate how much you need to cut out the center of the plate and draw a line starting at the top center point to however much you would like to cut out on the bottom side (see diagram below) do this the same on the other side but from the bottom to however much you want to cut out at the top so you have a diaganal section marked out. these two lines will be the ones you are cutting. by cutting diagonaly insted of straight down it increases the strenghth of the bond when you come to rejoin the two sections 6. Cut along the lines you have just made with a hack saw or similar. 7. at this point i primered the surface so it was a flat color and a base so as i knew were i could safley sand down to at the later stages in the process but this is not esential. 8. sand down the cuts slightly so they fit together smoothly and duck tape together at the front. from behind start the weld the plastic toether with the soldering iron and melt the offcuts of plastic to fill any gaps there may be from the cuts once the gap is filled in and both sides of the plate are strongly bonded in place i left it in the fridge for a hour just so the previoulsy melted platic was nice and hard again. 9. sand down the join till smooth and looks like the origanal shape ect. 10. primer with plastick primer, i then snaded down again as once in a flat color i saw minor imperfections in the join, but this may not be nessesery. 11. once happy with the finish and the primer paint and lacure 12. job done Pictures to be added when im home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Looking good mate, nice write up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Looking forward to the pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Pics, pics, pics!!! I know full well you've been home for nearly 6 hours... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MILLER_102 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 im doing this at the minute too... glad to see another write up =] il put my pics up when done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwality83 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 My poor old number plate surround!! You hacked him to pieces!! And i thought it was going to a good home Lol, just kidding, looks like it has been very useful for you, and i look forward to seeing the final result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted June 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 i haven't got it painted yet hold your horses should have it pained buy the end of the week and ill get them up as soon as its done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 sorry guys been realy busy at work, and with some stupid bitch knocking into the rear of me ive had to get other things sorted first but should b done in the next few weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted October 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 sorry guys been realy busy at work, and with some stupid bitch knocking into the rear of me ive had to get other things sorted first but should b done in the next few weeks right ive hit a wall with this one as i cant get the strength in the bond, anyone else done this and have a solution ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Solution = buy a 12x3 plate lol Sorry i can't help, wish i had a 5 digit plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Get back on to dicky. He's the man for this mod! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 But will your dealership make me a shorty number plate to go on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Get back on to dicky. He's the man for this mod! dicky got his done at a body shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psy Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 The only thing I can think of is to not have the 'weak point' in the middle as there is of course a curve in the bumper. Instead, try this: 1) Get another plate mount. 2) Cut the mount 1" from the end (to preserve the 'rounded' corners and end. Gives you two pieces, a 1" bit, and the full thing minus the 1" at the end 3) Cut as much as you want off the long bit (eg, 5"), leaving you with a 1" bit and a longer bit. 4) Attach the 1" bit to the longer bit to 'complete' the rim of the mount. This should mean that the bond is at the end of the new shorter mount and won't be under as much flex. Si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 ^ ^ ^ ^ Makes sense to have the weak point nearer 1 end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 The only thing I can think of is to not have the 'weak point' in the middle as there is of course a curve in the bumper. Instead, try this: 1) Get another plate mount. 2) Cut the mount 1" from the end (to preserve the 'rounded' corners and end. Gives you two pieces, a 1" bit, and the full thing minus the 1" at the end 3) Cut as much as you want off the long bit (eg, 5"), leaving you with a 1" bit and a longer bit. 4) Attach the 1" bit to the longer bit to 'complete' the rim of the mount. This should mean that the bond is at the end of the new shorter mount and won't be under as much flex. Si very good idea, ill have to look at it again and see if this will work. not sure if the curvature of the plate is an even ark though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge- Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Does it matter too much? If its bonded together with a layer of paint, the plate screws through and into the bumper. Which will fix it into place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauly330 Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Did you ever get this sorted mate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted December 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Did you ever get this sorted mate? not yet mate any thing i try to do just isnt strong enough. the number plate mounts i have are all exhusted now so need to sorce a new one or go down a different route Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 24v Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Have you tried welding the strip you took out onto the back of the mount? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Have you tried welding the strip you took out onto the back of the mount? yup thats what i tryed first. the plastic weld just isnt strong enought though i dont know how dickys body shop did it must have been talented guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E46 Coupe Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Just came across this thread, useful tip cheers! Can a shorted one be bought from dealers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
